§ 27. Mr. Doddsasked the Lord Privy Seal how many tins of corned beef intended for starving people in the Congo 1396 still remain in this country and are not now required for that purpose; and on what dates his Department contacted the United Nations authorities with a view to this food going to the Congo.
§ Mr. GodberAs my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal told the hon. Gentleman on 8th February, this consignment, 7,662 tins, was part of a supply set aside in response to an appeal from Mr. Hammarskjold to relieve certain food shortages, not famine, in the Leopoldville area last July, After these initial exchanges with the United Nations authorities, we were in touch with them about the remaining tins in December and again last month. As they do not want the beef, we are selling it and shall hand over the proceeds to the United Nations for famine relief.
§ Mr. DoddsSince the food was allocated in July, and in October, November and December there was a great famine and many people in this country, including children and elderly people, gave money after seeing harrowing pictures in the newspapers and on television showing the starvation that there was. does not the hon. Gentleman appreciate how they will feel when they know that during all that time nearly 8,000 tins of meat were lying dumped on an airfield which probably would have prevented some people from starving? Why could we not have sent it? Why was it that, according to what the Lord Privy Seal said last week, the aeroplanes were not sufficient to carry the food? Is this country not able to provide transport in an emergency of this sort?
§ Mr. GodberWe must put the matter in proportion. The July shortage, which brought the initial offer of the food, was one of great urgency, and immediate action, on a sort of "crash" application, was taken to provide the food and transport which was required. As it happened, this consignment was rather more than the aircraft concerned could take. In fact, it appeared that this particular corned beef, bully-beef, was not food which was particularly useful for the inhabitants of the Congo. What was sent was used by United Nations personnel. It was not a type of food asked for by the United Nations for famine relief, and, in fact, when we offered it again the United Nations authorities told us that it would not be of any use. In spite of the 1397 famine, it was not of help to them, and it was for that reason that we decided to sell it.